Jackson Koivun caps Presidents Cup debut by helping the US rally for the win

MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) — Jackson Koivun crushed his tee shot on No. 18 and twirled his driver in the air as he strutted toward the fairway.

The 21-year-old Koivun looked quite comfortable in his Presidents Cup debut. More like a seasoned veteran than the youngest player on the U.S. team.

The former Auburn star defeated Si Woo Kim 2 up in singles on Sunday, part of an epic rally for the Americans in a 17-13 victory over the International squad. He went 2-0-1 in his three matches at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago.

“I put him in a big spot today, a really big spot,” U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker said. “That was a massive match. If we were going to have any chance today, he had to win that match. The guys were cheering in the room last night when we made that decision to put him in that spot. The whole team went crazy because they knew they wanted the kid to go up against Si Woo, and he delivered today in a big way.”

Koivun led the Tigers to the NCAA title in June. Almost two months later, the California native won the 3M Open in his third professional start, holding off Scottie Scheffler on the way to the victory.

Despite his lack of experience, Koivun was selected by Snedeker for the American team. He became the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to start a year without a tour card and play in the Presidents Cup.

“I had some goals, but for it to come this quickly is definitely shocking, and I’m just thankful and grateful for the trust the captains put in me to put me out in three of the five matches,” Koivun said.

Koivun teamed with Justin Thomas for a 4-and-3 victory over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria in fourballs on Thursday. He rested during Friday's foursomes — a 5-0 sweep for the International team — before playing with Thomas again on Saturday in a fourballs match against Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im that was halved.

“He’s really just — he gets it. He’s very mature,” Thomas said. “It just was really cool to kind of just watch him do his thing. I’ll never in my life forget the smile he had on his face when he put the tee in the ground on Thursday morning and he was about to hit.”

Koivun fell behind at the beginning of his singles match against Kim, losing two of the first four holes. He got one back when he made an 18-footer for birdie on No. 5, a 480-yard, par-4. But Kim restored his 2-up lead when he birdied No. 9 and Koivun missed a 6-footer.

Koivun rallied with an impressive finish, winning five of the last eight holes. He tied the match with a 12-footer for birdie on No. 12. He opened a 2-up lead on No. 15, when he hit it into 7 feet and Kim missed a 6-footer.

Up one going into No. 18, Koivun showed no signs of any nerves. He blasted a 310-yard drive into the fairway and an 8-iron from 159 into 8 feet, punctuating each swing with a twirling club and a confident walk toward the green.

Koivun's victory guaranteed at least a tie for the U.S., and the Americans closed it out from there. Koivun was one of the first players to hold the Cup during the closing ceremony, capping a valuable experience for the phenom.

“Yeah, I think I’ll just take a lot of knowledge that I can be out here and I can compete,” he said. “It’s just exciting being able to call these guys my friends, and now when I go to tournaments it’s not like, ‘Oh, there’s so and so.’ It’s like, ‘I was on a team with them and we won the Presidents Cup.’”

See AP’s full golf coverage here

Members of the USA team celebrate Jackson Koivun's win on the 18th green against the International team during a Presidents Cup golf tournament final round singles match at Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Members of the USA team celebrateJackson Koivun's win on the 18th green against the International team during a Presidents Cup golf tournament final round singles match at Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

President Donald Trump smiles as USA teams' Jackson Koivun holds the Presidents Cup trophy after the Presidents Cup golf tournament against the International team at Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

USA teams' Jackson Koivun, center, Collin Morikawa, left, and Scottie Scheffler celebrate after their win over the International team in the Presidents Cup golf tournament final round at Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

USA teams' Jackson Koivun reacts to his birdie putt on the 12th hole against the International team during a Presidents Cup golf tournament final round singles match at Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

NEW YORK (AP) — There was always going to be a moment for Dolly Parton. Kacey Musgraves paid homage to the late, great country music icon at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night, with a cover of Parton's “I Will Always Love You."

Parton, whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, died in Nashville of cancer in August. She was 80.

The two-hour MTV Video Music Awards show is currently being broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The VMAs are also simulcast on MTV and available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Here’s what else to know about the award show.

“It's mother," were the first words uttered by Madonna as she opened the VMAs with her 2026 single “Bring Your Love" alongside her collaborator Sabrina Carpenter.

If her aim was to bring the dance floor to the award show stage, she did exactly that — and then some, when Charli xcx emerged from a club bathroom to perform their reworked version of “Danceteria.” Around them? A trove of dancers and various famous friends, including actor Debi Mazar, Sombr and Julia Garner.

The show, which was delayed 20 minutes by a tight NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, wasted no time getting heart rates up.

Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, emerged as host shortly thereafter.

“Now that is an icon,” Dogg said of Madonna, before pivoting to a joke: “She ain't a virgin no more.”

Then Teyana Taylor presented the first award for best pop to LISA for “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi.

“Thank you MTV for this amazing award,” she said while holding back tears. “All those late-night dreams brought me here today.”

Performers followed fast and furious: Raye delivered a medley of her throwback soul, starting with “I Will Overcome” into “Where Is My Husband!” Bruno Mars slowed things down with “Dance With Me.” Shaboozey launched into his saloon single “Cowgirl,” before being joined by Gunna for some hybrid country-rap with their crossover track, “High Noon.”

Swifties, it looks like the night is already yours.

Earlier this week it was announced that Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.

Swift is currently tied with Beyoncé for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each. (Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs with 15.) The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to recognize artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” will bring her total to 31.

She will also debut the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the award show. Swift directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

“Patient Zero” is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.

Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations. The pop superstar has been nominated in every decade of her musical career. She has 19 competitive MTV VMA wins and in 1986 became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.

She is up for 11 awards at this year’s ceremony, including video, artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

Taylor Swift follows with the second-most nominations with nine.

Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods each to their names, as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.

Madonna's show opener marked her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years.

Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will pay tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day. He was 53.

Other performers include GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, as well as Lisa and Sienna Spiro.

For more coverage of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/mtv-video-music-awards

LISA arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Teyana Taylor presents the award for best pop during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Lisa accepts the award for best pop for "Dream feat. Kentara Sakaguchi" during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Sombr arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

PinkPantheress arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Charli xcx arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Adam Lambert arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Madonna appears at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 5, 2025, left, and Taylor Swift appears at the MTV Video Music Awards in Elmont, N.Y., on Sept. 11, 2024. (Photos by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - A statue of the MTV Moon Man appears on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 20, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)